Losses to Montgomery, Cardinal Newman end title hopes
The defending North Bay League champion Windsor Jaguars saw their hopes for a title repeat dashed this week, dropping hotly contested games to NBL powers Montgomery and Cardinal Newman.
The Jaguars (10-3, 19-6) began the final stretch of league play in a first place tie with Newman (12-1) and one ahead of Montgomery, but successive losses to the Vikings (46-45) and Cardinals (50-40) relegated Windsor to third place. Rounding out the NBL standings are Santa Rosa (7-6), Ukiah (5-7), Maria Carrillo (3-9), Rancho Cotate (2-11) and Casa Grande (1-12).
At press time the Jags were preparing to close out the regular season schedule on Feb. 10 at Ukiah in a 7:30 p.m. varsity tip-off.
Should the standings stay the same, Windsor will represent the number three seed in the NBL Playoff Tournament, which includes the top four finishing teams and begins on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The Jags will likely open the tourney at number two Montgomery (7 p.m.), while Cardinal Newman hosts number four Santa Rosa. The NBL tourney title game will be played on Friday, Feb. 17 at Santa Rosa Junior College at 8 p.m.
Jags drop a pair
Windsor was out for a clean sweep when it played host to visiting Montgomery on Feb. 6, hoping to duplicate a 56-51 win over the Vikings last month.
This one was a defensive battle from the start, as the teams played to a 12-all tie after one before the Jags took a 24-22 lead into the half. The third quarter featured numerous momentum shifts that had the Vikings clinging to a 39-37 edge heading into the fourth quarter. The game came down to the final seconds with Windsor in possession and trailing by one, but a final shot would not fall as Montgomery escaped with a 46-45 victory.
“It’s always tough to lose a game that comes down to the final possession,” Jags coach Travis Taylor said. “However, I am extremely proud of the players’ effort and preparation, and we will continue working to improve both individually and collectively.
Sharing top scoring honors for the Jags were Justin Smith (6 rebounds) and Travis Carlozzi with 14 points apiece, while other good efforts included Riley Smith (11 points, 6 boards) and Brandon Mallie (6 points, 6 rebounds).
The Jaguar’s squared off at Cardinal Newman on Feb. 8, looking to avenge a pair of losses suffered at the hands of the Cardinals in the first two meetings. The Jags hung tough in the first quarter to forge an 8-8 tie, but Newman busted it wide open with a 21-8 run in the second for a 29-17 halftime cushion.
Windsor nearly came all the way back in the third with a great defensive effort in holding the Cardinals to four points, but couldn’t get any closer than a two-point deficit the rest of the way as Newman hung on for a 60-50 win.
“It was a disappointing game to lose, but I’m proud of my guys,” Taylor noted. “They played hard from tip to buzzer and we will bounce back.”
Top point-producers for the Jags were Carlozzi (15 points, 8 rebounds), Riley Smith (14 points), Justin Smith (5 points, 9 boards), Kobe Roman (3 points) and Mallie (3 points).
